Letty and I head for The Bunkhouse.

As we walked in Teeter was cooking something for all of them to eat. Gator was going to be gone a few more days and to be honest the food didn't smell horrible.

"Dinners almost ready." Teeter said.

"You are wasting your time, Teeter. No one is going to eat a thing you cook." Ryan said to her as we sat down next to him.

"When does Gator get back?" Colby asked.

"Thursday" I told him.

"Thursday! I'm going to be dead by Thursday. I can already feel my organs shutting down." He said and I laughed. "Walker, you know any hunger songs?"

"No" Walker told him laughing.

Teeter set a bowl of food in front of Colby. "Oh, uh no, I'm good." Colby told her

"Come on Baby. I keep cooking and you keep not eatin. I need you strong for later" Teeter did a little dance. Letty had drifted off to sleep even with all the craziness. I went and laid her down on Ryan's bunk. I walked back over and leaned down to Ryan and whispered

"You are definitely going to need your strength for later." He looked at me and back to the food and back to me as I sat down staring at him looking him up and down.

"Fuck it! I'm so hungry. I'll eat anything right now" he said grabbing the bowl.

I snickered and said under my breath. "Good to know."

"Oh, I wouldn't. It's probably going to be…." Colby starts as Ryan takes a bite. He had a look of shock on his face.

"Don't fuckin lie." Teeter said.

"It's fuckin great." Ryan said.

Everyone started running to the pot. I just set back laughing.

"What's in it?" Colby asked leaning over at Ryan trying to look in the bowl.

"Everything baby." Teeter said leaning against the counter.

"There is vegetables and sausage." Ryan told him. "What do you call it?"

"Sum Bitch" Teeter announced.

I started laughing and Jake ran for the sink spitting the food out.

"aren't you going to eat?" Ryan asked me.

"Oh, Letty and I ate earlier. I left the rest of the casserole I cooked for Dad and drop some off for Rip, Beth, and Carter."

"You didn't think we needed to eat?" Colby asked me.

"I offered to make a y'all some, but T said she had it covered so I didn't argue. Plus, she told me what she was fixing, and I could not miss that for the world." I laughed as he gave me a confused look.

"What does that mean?" he asked.

"it's the whole damn cow. Everything and when I say everything, I mean everything. Especially what no one wants. I'm sure someone has an eyeball in theirs." I told him and he looked like he would throw up.

"It's still good." Ryan said shrugging. I shook my head at him, and he gave me a big smile.

I watched as Walker grabbed a bowl of food and took it over to Lloyd.

"You want to fuckin dance old man" Walker said as Lloyd kicked him in the stomach. The fight started and I ran for Letty and took her out of the bunkhouse as I seen Rip enter the barn. I ran to the barn with Letty in my arms as she screamed. Rip turned to me when he heard her cries.

"Rip, there is a fight going on in the bunkhouse." I told him.

Rip took off and I passed Letty to Carter. "Carter, do me a favor don't let her out of your sight and distract her from the noise. I'll be right back."

I followed shortly behind Rip entering the bunkhouse as he was yelling.

"What's the rule about fighting Lloyd?" he yelled. Rip hit him and threw him over the table almost hitting Ryan in the process. Ryan had jumped on the counter just in time.

He grabbed Walker and looked him in the eye. "There is no fighting on this Ranch. You want to fight someone you come fight me. I'll fight you all fuckin day." Rip let him go and walked out.

"Ry, make sure Lloyd gets ice on his ribs and eye. Walker makes sure you get ice on your lip. Someone probably needs to help you keep an eye on your stomach from the kick. You may need ice for that as well. I will be back in a few once I get Letty settled to check on y'all."

"You don't…." Ryan starts but I interrupt.

"I know but my training is kicking in and I just can't." I kissed his cheek and walked out to get Letty from Carter.

I got back to the main house and Letty drifted right back to sleep. I came out of her room to see Dad and Beth talking as I headed back for the door.

"Where are you going?" Dad asked me.

I huffed and turned from the door handle. "I need a walk because these two fuckin families I'm in are going to drive me insane or into an early grave could be both. Is that ok or does a grown ass woman after to get daddy's permission for a walk? Yeah, didn't think so." I said walking out the door leaving them speechless.

I checked on both of the idiots. "Lloyd, you know the drill keep ice on everything. You are going to be sore but will live." I told him shaking my head.

"Thanks." He grunted out.

I walked over to Walker shaking my head. "You will be fine too. Can we try to have no more fights?"

"I figured I would be fine ma'am. I've had worse before. Thank ya for everything." Walker said.

I shook my head "My brother has a good heart and saved you for a reason. So far, I can't tell you why. I promise you my patience is wearing very thin as of now, and I wouldn't push me. (I pointed to Lloyd) That man has been a part of my life my whole life. He is my family as well so don't push it. He shouldn't push it either. I promise family or not I'm not my brothers or my sister. Kayce hesitated, but I won't remember that." I whispered to him and looked him in the eye.

"Yes Ma'am" he said.

Ryan walked me back to the house.

"So, you figure that date out yet." I asked him.

"Almost there I promise. Should I ask what you told Walker."

"Best you didn't. You just need to remember life on this place is crazy and will make you crazy." I laughed so did he.

"It doesn't exactly seem you really want to hide things. I thought you didn't want your dad to know yet? You know about whatever this is."

I laughed at how he phrased it. "I don't want to hide it, and I don't necessarily want to tell him. You do know there is not a lot that goes on here he doesn't know about?! You ready to run yet."

"Run from you never." He said smiling. "Run away with you maybe."

"Interesting." I said as I stopped and leaned on one of the fences. "Ryan, I need to tell you a story before whatever this is goes wherever. (He just stared at me listening to what I had to say) Daddy told me once about love when I was younger. As you can imagine wasn't the easiest for him to talk to girls about that." I said and laughed. "He told me he fell in love with Mama the first time he seen her on a horse. Grandaddy could not stand Dad. Even after Mama and Daddy got married and had kids Grandaddy had issues. He tried like hell at every turn to break them up. Daddy told me no matter what if I truly was falling for someone and loved them don't let anyone stop us. EJ and I started dating EJ was a rebel not to say I wasn't, but dad hated him. Dad told me don't let anyone including him stop me from love. Ryan, EJ will always be a part of my heart that won't ever change. Everyone of both families still joke that we were two rebels without a cause that were made for each other. I don't know where you and I are going. I want you to know I don't expect you to be him. No one will be him, but I feel like he sent you to me for me to be happy and move on with my life. You are the first man to make me feel truly anything since EJ died. Letty brought me back to life and now you have, but I come with a lot of baggage. The feelings I feel for you scare the hell out of me. So, if this is a fling and you don't see this going past a few dates and some fun walk away now because I don't have time for drama and feelings that aren't there. I don't think I can deal with my heart being broken like that again."

He just stared at me for a moment and then kissed me, "Ricki, I need you to listen to me. I know it's not a strong point for you but listen (I rolled my eyes smiling) I am in this for as long as you will have me. Truth is I've never felt something like this about anyone before. I thought I had but these feeling are stronger than I knew possible. It scares the hell out of me too. I can't say your family or families don't scare the hell out of me, but I would fight to the moon and back for you. Ricki, You and Letty are my life now, and I would do anything to protect you and that little girl. I know it sounds crazy we haven't had a proper date yet but from that first night there's just something pulling us together." He said smiling down at me pulling me close and wiping my tears away.

"Kiss me again cowboy" I told him.

We kissed with so much passion. I couldn't believe happiness was finding me again.